Letters to the editor -- Published Feb. 6, 2013

Foreigners who invest in the United States are breathing a sigh of relief. The threat of the Republicans to default on the national debt, if they don't get their way, has been postponed.

Foreigners who invest in the United States are breathing a sigh of relief. The threat of the Republicans to default on the national debt, if they don't get their way, has been postponed.

If a threat by either party to default on the national debt enables them to exact concessions out of the other party, it will be repeated, regularly, in the future. Is this a good thing?

Foreigners buy our bonds, the gold standard of paper money, because they represent safety. Alexander Hamilton promised, after the Revolutionary War, that we would be a nation that paid its debts.

The "debt ceiling" vote is an antique from the 1930s. No other nation has it. In periods of deficits and rising debts, during wars and recessions for example, it needs to be raised routinely. During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, it was raised 16 times. Can you imagine what governing the country would have been like if President Reagan had to swap something with Democrats every time he had to pay the bills?

A threat to not raise the debt ceiling is a threat to not pay our bills and to default on the national debt. Foreigners may trust our ability to pay our debts. But will they doubt our willingness? The U.S. should not behave like some 19th century banana republic! We shouldn't allow threats to default to become a regular feature of our politics. We must keep Hamilton's promise.

Mickey McGuire

Tracy

Jack Klimp, president and CEO of the National Association for Uniformed Services in Washington, D.C., has circulated petitions to save Social Security and Medicare. His petitions also inform voters of critical facts that affect their potential future Social Security retirement funds. His petitions state the following:

1. "Over $2.63 TRILLION has been 'raided' from the Social Security Trust Fund by Congress and there is no plan for repayment."

2. "The Supreme Court has ruled Congress has no legal obligation to pay Social Security benefits and cost of living adjustments and could vote to cut or eliminate them at any time."

At what point does "raiding" our nation's workers' Social Security investment in their own retirement become congressional grand theft? How is it possible to "raid" a fund and have no commitment and obligation to repay? Are these the congressional members who, with our votes, we entrusted to serve the people of the United States? How can our Supreme Court justify such actions and rule that Congress has no obligation to repay funds taken or to pay the cost of living adjustments? How long has this been going on, and why hasn't it been publicized and stopped?

Ruth A. Radmore

Stockton

I grew up in Stockton and moved away in 1995. My mother still lives there. As she ages, I worry about her. However, this story changes the definition of My Home Town and renews my fondness for this city.

On Sunday, Jan. 27, the phone at my home in Washington rang. Seeing a "209" area code pop up on Caller ID made me worry something had happened to my mother.

Something had happened, but it was the most wonderful thing instead: The very kind man on the other end of the line asked if I knew someone who lost her wallet in the Lincoln Center parking lot, saying he did not just want to leave it anywhere and would like to return it. He must have gotten my name from an emergency contact in my mother's wallet; indeed, when I called her, she said she had lost it. I told her would be waiting for her at Trader Joe's. I did not quite get this man's name, but I am so very grateful to this honest good Samaritan of Stockton, who made my day - and made one more part of my mother's day better. Thank you, kind sir, for your enormous act of kindness.